1000+ images about Strelitzia flowers on Pinterest | Madeira, Cool drinks and This morning Our exotic flower display in our shop this morning, lots and lots of Strelitzia (Bird of paradise), stunning purple anthurium and purple allium. #reidsflorists #exoticflowers #birdofparadise See More Birds of Paradise | The Flower Expert - Exotic Flowers Buy From OurStores Birds of Paradise The Birds of Paradise is one of the most colorful flowers in the world. The name Bird of Paradise comes from its spectacular flower shape which resembles a bird's beak and head plumage. Birds of Paradise, also known as Crane flowers is one of the most beautiful Exotic Flowers . Birds of Paradise are native to South Africa. Birds of Paradise bloom from September through May. The flowers of the Birds of Paradise resemble a brightly colored bird in flight and so the name Birds of Paradise. Kingdom Genus Strelitzia The unusually beautiful shape and brilliant colors of Birds of Paradise have made these flowers not just a designer's favorite, but also a popular symbol of paradise.

The popular Birds-of-Paradise plant bears a unique flower that resembles a brightly colored bird in flight, giving it the common name, Bird of Paradise. The Birds-of-Paradise flowers make the plant an exceptionally attractive landscape plant. The Birds of Paradise foliage resembles small banana leaves with long petioles. The leaves on the Birds of Paradise plant are arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage, thick, waxy, and glossy green, making it a very attractive ornamental plant. The leaf blades are 6 inches wide and 18 inches long. The Birds of Paradise plant usually reaches a height of 4 feet. Birds of Paradise flowers are produced in a horizontal inflorescence emerging from a stout spathe. The Birds of Paradise flower inflorescence is borne atop long scapes, or pedicels, that grow to 5 feet or more in height. The flower on the Birds of Paradise plant is the most unusual part. A series of highly colored bracts, or modified leaves, are formed into green, red, and or purplish canoe-like structures. Bracts vary between 4-8 inches long, depending upon the age and size of the Birds of Paradise plant.

Each Birds of Paradise flower is made up of three upright orange sepals and three highly modified vivid blue petals. Two of the petals are joined together in a structure resembling an arrowhead with the third petal forming a nectary at the base of the flower. Each bract contains 2 or more protruding Birds of Paradise florets of bright yellow or orange elongated petals and a bright blue tongue. The female part of the Birds of Paradise flower is the long extension of the blue tongue, which is extended well away from the stamens. from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Pollination in Birds of Paradise When a pollinator, usually a sunbird, lands on the arrowhead in search of nectar, the anthers are levered clear of the Birds of Paradise flower and deposit pollen on the breast of the bird. When the bird flies to another plant, this pollen is transferred to the stigma of the new flower. Then the resulting fruit is a leathery capsule containing numerous small seeds, each with an orange aril (an outgrowth from the seed similar to the red sheath around yew seeds) and an oil body, possibly to attract birds.

Facts About Birds of Paradise Birds of Paradise are the mid-sized staples of tropical bouquets. Birds of Paradise need to be bound together, or supported in some way in larger vases and may bruise smaller flowers. Birds of Paradise are often thought of as the symbol of tropical flowers . Birds of Paradise are medium-sized exotic blooms that instantly evoke palm trees, but do not last longer than a week. The name Birds of Paradise comes from the spectacular flower shape, which resembles a bird's beak and head plumage. Because of the banana shaped leaves and other plant characteristics Birds of Paradise was classified in the banana family Musaceae. Some More Popular Species of Birds of Paradise Strelitzia alba/syn. S. augusta - White Birds of Paradise Strelitzia caudata/Swaziland Strelitzia - African desert banana Strelitzia nicolai - White, or Giant Birds of Paradise; Wild banana Strelitzia reginae/S.

parvifolia - Strelitzia, Birds of Paradise, or Crane lily Growing Birds of Paradise The soil around Birds of Paradise plant needs to be kept moist all spring and summer but should be allowed to dry out slightly between watering in the fall and winter. Try to avoid temperatures below 50 degrees. Birds of Paradise need indoor temperatures. Feed your Birds of Paradise every other week during spring and summer with a liquid such as Schultz's Instant Plant Food or a water-soluble fertilizer such as Bachman's Excel-Gro, and a quality peat-based potting soil. Cut back to once a month in fall and winter. A quality peat-based potting soil such as Bachman's Exceloam is perfect for the Birds of Paradise plant. When Birds of Paradise plants are young and actively growing, repot them every spring so that they have plenty of room. As the Birds of Paradise mature (and have bloomed for a year or two), they can be carefully divided. Remember that this will keep the plant from blooming again for several years! Birds of Paradise are also propagated from seed. Birds of Paradise Plant Care The Bird of Paradise does require a good amount of sunlight.

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system for the Birds of Paradise. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed Birds of Paradise plants with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Floral preservative for Birds of Paradise is recommended and is available commercially. from our stores - Pickupflowers - the flower expert Subscribe Get 10% off on pickupflowers.com explore Bird Of Paradise Varieties – Learn About Different Bird Of Paradise Plant Types Image by brento By Bonnie L. Grant Few plants evince the exotic tropics like the bird of paradise . The unique flower has vivid colors and a statuesque profile that is unmistakable. That being said, the bird of paradise plant can refer to two completely different plants. Read on to learn more about them. Strelitzia and Caesalpinia Bird of Paradise Plants Strelitzia is the common form of the plant in Hawaii, California and Florida, and the classic birds of paradise recognizable from glossy tropical pictures and exotic floral displays. The genus that grows in the southwestern regions of the U.S., however, is called Caesalpinia.

Cultivars of the Strelitzia genus of bird of paradise abound, but the Caesalpinia genus is nothing like the BOP with which most gardeners are familiar. Within both genera, there are numerous types of bird of paradise plants suitable for warm regions in which they’re hardy. Strelitzia Bird of Paradise Varieties Strelitzia are widespread in Florida, southern California and other tropical to semi-tropical realms. The plant is native to South Africa and also known by the name crane flower in reference to the bird-like blooms. These flowers are much larger than the Caesalpinia varieties and possess a characteristic “tongue,” usually of blue with a boat-shaped base and crown of fanned petals that mimic the crane’s plumage. There are only six recognized species of Strelitzia. Strelitzia nicolai and S. reginea are the most common in warm season landscapes. Strelitzia nicolai is the giant bird of paradise, whereas the reginea species is the standard sized plant with sword-like leaves and smaller flowers. The plants are most closely related to banana plants and bear similar tall, wide paddle-shaped foliage.

The tallest variety grows up to 30 feet tall and all varieties establish easily in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and above. They have very little cold tolerance but can be useful as houseplants in cooler regions. Caesalpinia Bird of Paradise Plant Types The large bird-headed flowers of Strelitzia are classic and easy to recognize. Caesalpinia is also called a bird of paradise but it has a much smaller head on an airy-leaved bush. The plant is a legume and there are over 70 species of the plant. It produces a pea-like green fruit and showy flowers with large brightly colored stamens frilled with spectacular smaller petals. The most popular species of bird of paradise in this genus are C. pulcherrima, C. gilliesii and C. mexicana, but there are many more available for the home gardener. Most species only get 12 to 15 feet tall but, in rare instances, Mexican bird of paradise (C. mexicana) can reach 30 feet in height.

Growing and Establishing Bird of Paradise Plant Types If you are lucky enough to live in one of the higher USDA plant zones, decorating your garden with either of these genera is a cinch. Strelitzia grows in moist soil and requires supplemental moisture in the dry season. It forms a taller plant with larger flowers in partial sun, but also performs well in full sun. These bird of paradise plant types do well in warm, humid regions. Caesalpinia, on the other hand, does not thrive in humidity and requires arid, dry and hot locations. Caesalpinia pulcherrima is probably the most tolerant of humidity, as it is native to Hawaii. Once established in the proper soil and lighting situation, both types of bird of paradise plants will flower and grow with little intervention for decades. Strelitzia reginae (bird-of-paradise flower) | Plants & Fungi At Kew Strelitzia reginae (bird-of-paradise flower) A bold, architectural plant, bird-of-paradise flower has been grown at Kew since 1773.

Strelitzia reginae (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) Species information Not yet assessed according to IUCN Red List criteria. Habitat: River banks and scrub clearings in coastal areas. Key Uses: Genus: Strelitzia About this species Bird-of-paradise flower, or crane flower as it is sometimes known, was first introduced into Britain in 1773 by Sir Joseph Banks, then the unofficial director of the Royal Gardens at Kew (as they were known at that time). He named the exotic-looking plant Strelitzia in honour of Queen Charlotte, wife of George III and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who lived at Kew for many years. Genus: Discover more Geography and distribution Strelitzia reginae is native to the southern and eastern parts of the Cape Province and northern Natal in South Africa. It has been introduced into parts of central and tropical South America and is widely cultivated as an ornamental.

Fruits of Strelitzia reginae (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) Description Overview: Reaching a height of 1.2 m, Strelitzia reginae plants consist of clumps of greyish-green leaves, with long stalks and broad oval blades, arising from an underground stem (rhizome). Flowers: The plant gets its common name from the exotic appearance of the inflorescence (flowering head). Emerging from a horizontal green and pink boat-shaped bract (a leaf-like structure) in slow succession, the flowers look like the crest on a bird's head. Each flower comprises three, upright, orange outer tepals and three, highly modified, vivid blue inner tepals. Two of the inner tepals are joined together in a structure resembling an arrowhead with the third tepal forming a nectary at the base of the flower. The stamens have long thin filaments surrounded by the arrowhead structure with whitish anthers that emerge from the top of the arrowhead.

When a pollinator, usually a bird, lands on the arrowhead in search of the copious nectar, the anthers are levered clear of the flower and pollen is deposited on the feet or breast of the pollinator, which then carries the pollen to another flower. Fruits: The fruit is a leathery capsule containing numerous small seeds, each with an orange aril (an outgrowth from the seed similar to the red sheath (mace) around fresh nutmeg seeds) and an oil body, possibly attractive to birds which may help to distribute the seeds. Seeds of Strelitzia reginae (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) Uses Bird-of-paradise flower is highly-prized and widely cultivated as an ornamental. The flowers are good for cutting and make an exotic addition to floral displays. Individual flowers last for about a week, but a single boat-shaped bract will produce several flowers in succession. When not in flower, the plant still has a striking appearance due to the large glaucous leaves which resemble those of banana plants. Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future.

Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault. A collection of Strelitzia reginae seeds is held in Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank based at Wakehurst in West Sussex. Cultivation Strelitzia reginae at the British Museum (Photo: R. Wilford) In Britain, bird-of-paradise flower cannot usually be grown outside as it requires a minimum temperature of 10°C. During the winter, the plants should be kept almost dry but in summer they need plenty of water. A suitable compost can be made from one part loam, one and a half parts coir, one part grit and one part bark. The plants require regular feeding. Flowering occurs in spring and early summer and can be encouraged by keeping the plants slightly pot-bound. Hand-pollination is necessary to produce seeds, but this seldom works. For germination and initial growth, the seeds need bottom-heat of at least 21°C. Some new stocks of seed-raised plants can reach flowering size in two to three years, but individual specimens may take up to ten years.

Due to the difficulty of producing seeds, Strelitzia reginae is usually propagated by dividing the plants or using suckers produced at the base. Mature plants should not be re-potted too often, as the fleshy roots can easily be damaged by disturbance. Bird-of-paradise flower at Kew 'Strelitzia and Sugar Birds' painted by Marianne North Strelitzia reginae is grown in the south block of the Temperate House (known as the Mexican House until 1977). *Please note Kew's Temperate House is currently closed for restoration - due to reopen in 2018*. It was the first plant to be replaced in the newly restored Temperate House in 1979. Grown here are typical S. reginae with small lanceolate leaf-blades (tapering at both ends); 'Kirstenbosch Gold', a superb yellow-flowered form, as well as S. juncea, an interesting species with reed-like leaves from a limited area on the eastern Cape coast.

The 'Kirstenbosch Gold' plants were presented to Kew in 1991 by Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the leading botanic garden in South Africa, and flowered for the first time at Kew in 1992. Since 1880, similar forms have made brief appearances in cultivation and 'Citrina' flowered in the Mexican House in 1914. Other strelitzias in the same area of the Temperate House include the 10 m tall S. nicolai, named after the Russian emperor Nicholas I, with its striking blue and white flowers. A native of the coastal regions of Natal, eastern Cape Province, Mozambique and Botswana, this species was first planted in this block when it opened in 1899 and was replaced with a new specimen when the House was restored. Also on display is the very rare S. alba, from the south coast of Cape Province, with its showy white flowers. In 1909, S. x kewensis, a hybrid between S. reginae and S. alba, flowered at Kew for the first time, producing pale watery yellow flowers.

Unfortunately it now seems to have disappeared from cultivation. Preserved specimens of S. reginae are held in Kew's Herbarium, where they are available to researchers by appointment. The details, including images, of some pressed and dried specimens can be seen online in the Herbarium Catalogue. References and credits Add to Bookmarks This article will introduce the reader to this fantastic plant with unique and curious flowers that say 'tropics' just about as well as any flower on the planet. Ever since I was young, bird of paradise plants intrigued me. My best friend's dad had a small greenhouse in our home in northern New Mexico, one of the last climates you would ever expect to see a bird of paradise. It was so exotic and bizarre that I took some time to believe that such a plant could exist in nature. The flowers look so bird-like that it's hard to believe its mere coincidence. I never imagined I would live somewhere this plant would be so commonplace I would hardly ever give them a second look. But here I am now in southern California where Strelitzias are one of the most commonly planted landscape plants.

Strelitzia is a genus of about 5 or 6 species (depending on who you listen to) of monocot plants closely related to the bananas and even more closely related to Ravenala, the Madagascan plant known commonly as the Traveler's Palm. Strelitzia is a primarily South African genus, though Strelitzia alba is also found in Madagascar. All these plants are subtropical and grow in fairly low rainfall areas, so they tolerate only minimal frost but are fairly drought tolerant. The leaves of most Strelitzias are ‘paddle-shaped' and resemble banana leaves only with longer petioles. Strelitzia juncea leaves are ‘paddle-less' once the plant is mature, leaving just pointed spikes. When young, most Strelitzias grow in a distichous pattern (leaves in only two ranks/planes), but as older plants begin to offset, the overall effect is of leaves growing in all directions, particularly in the smaller species. However, each individual plant remains truly distichous forever, unlike how bananas grow. The leaves of all these bird of paradise are thick and leathery, also unlike the thin, rubbery leaves of most true bananas.

Leaves of this genus are listed as ‘possibly toxic' but few cases of actual toxicity exist in the literature, at least in small animal medicine. The seeds are supposedly more toxic and will cause vomiting if ingested. (left) Leaves of normal Strelitzia reginae. (middle) A narrower-leaved version, folded in a bit due to the dry climate. (right, or below) Close-up of Strelitzia reginae leaf. Strelitzia nicolai leaves Strelitzia juncea leaves (mature on left, immature on right) It is the flowers of this genus that attract the most attention. In their native South Africa these are also known as crane flowers, as they resemble the heads of the crowned crane. Strelitzia reginae is the most well known species and its flower is the most crane or bird-like. But they are also brilliantly colored with most of the species having a blue ‘tongue' arising from a dark green, blue or purple boat-shaped lower ‘bill' and a fan of orange, yellow or white petals that resemble the head feathers of some exotic birds (notably the crowned crane).

An adult Strelitzia reginae plant in full flower looks as if there were a several birds hidden in the foliage craning their necks just above the leaves and looking about in all directions. They are truly marvelous curiosities and extremely ornamental landscape plants. The larger species have less-colorful flowers, but they still look like bird heads, only without the necks. (left) Strelitzia juncea flower. (middle) Strelitzia nicolai flowers. (right, or below) Strelitzia reginae flower. top view of flowers with white or orange sepals and blue petals Double flowers are not unusual (left) Strelitzia juncea (middle) Strelitzia reginae, though normal with Strelitzia nicolai (right, or below) (left) Strelitzia reginae flower forming a second flower. (right) As it emerges from the spathe (the lower 'beak) base of the first flower. The flower anatomy is not simply attractive, but functional as well.

The blue ‘tongue' of the flower is the actual petals and contains the pollen (which can be seen if you spread apart the split down the middle of these petals.) At the base of the petals is where most of the attractive nectar ‘bait' is located. As a pollinating bird sits upon the petals to drink the nectar, the weight of the bird spreads apart the petals and the feet of the bird are covered in pollen. Then the bird proceeds onto the next flower, usually first alighting upon the stigma (that sticks out like a perch from the blue petals). As the bird sits upon this stigma, which is very sticky, it gets covered with pollen and the flower is fertilized! Petals split apart a bit to show the white pollen below and the pure white stigma pointing out like a needle; second photo is of older petals spread apart showing most pollen gone and the sticky stigma covered with debris As the flowers die, the seeds mature and eventually fall to the earth from the dried dead flower. In ideal conditions the seeds take 1 to 2 months to germinate and another 4 to 5 years for a mature flowering plant to develop. Most growers, however, simply divide mature plants to get more plants.

Seed pod and seeds (photos by eliasastro) All these species are reportedly easy to grow (in zones 9 and above) requiring little nurturing once fully established. As mentioned above, these are relatively drought-tolerant plants only requiring regular watering in desert climates. This is one of the reasons these are so popular as landscape plants and why they are nearly everywhere you look in public landscaping throughout southern California. The smaller plants are more drought-tolerant than the larger ones, and Strelitzia juncea is probably the most drought-tolerant of all (presumably due to the lack of transpiration from its ‘leafless' leaves). All Strelitzias prefer full sun though most will tolerate some shade. However few will flower well in shady environments. Fertilizer is applied as needed but in soils with some clay, frequent fertilization is not needed. Plants will flower more reliably if fertilized at least a couple times a year. Strelitzias are fairly tolerant of most soils, though extremely sandy, fast-draining soils in arid climates may necessitate increased irrigation frequency.

Strelitzia reginae is seen all over southern California in the landscape (first photo); Strelitzia nicolia is nearly as common (second photo); and even Strelitzia juncea shows up now and then (third photo) Despite their tolerance for neglect, they do respond well to regular fertilization and will certainly flower more reliably if grown in rich acidic soils with a consistent application of balanced fertilizer (most recommend 10-10-10). Pruning the smaller Strelitzias involves cutting or pulling dead leaves and flowers as close to the ground as possible, though I often see large public landscaped plants given 'hurricane cuts', where all the outer growht was cut down to around six inches above ground level, leaving only a narrow 'shuttle-cock' growth of leaves and flowers in the center. Others will even 'root-prune' around the edges of larger clumps, hacking at the plant a good few inches below the soil level all the way around the plant. This helps to keep plants a constant diameter, as some clumps, left unattended, can grow into shrubs dozens of feet in diameter and quickly outgrow its intended position.

I personally prefer to pull out old flowers and leaves, if possible, rather than cutting as this leaves less bulk and width of the clump and keeps the overall plant looking much cleaner. However, this method is no recommended for plants without good, sturdy root systems, or plants in pots (as you may end up yanking the whole plant out of the pot or ground). Keeping ahead on pruning is important as unattended clumps of Strelitzia get very messy and somewhat unsightly, and are very difficult to prune once they form a large, thick shrub. Pruning the larger species really requires one to keep up with things as these really can get of of control in a hurry. The dead leaves have to be cut as close to the ground as possible (no way to pull these unless they are really rotted and moist), but often even the lower living leaves are cut to keep the plants looking more trim. Eventually these will require ladders to read the higher stems, and pruning will involve not just cutting away the lower leaves, but cleaning of the stems to give them a healthy, neat, smooth trunk. In general the Strelitzias are fairly easy plants to move.

The thick, tuberous, carrot-like roots can be dug up easily, and even hacked apart, and the plants will usually tolerate this abuse well, though flowering cycles may be set back a few years. potted plant showing some of the thick, succulent roots Some grow these plants as indoor or houseplants and I have seen Strelitzia nicolai frequently used in this fashion. However I don't know if these plants survive for very long in such low light situations; the plants I see tend to be quite etiolated (stretched ) and look sort of weak. Leaves of these indoor plants develop a weird ultra-dark green coloration and I have never seen an indoor plant with flowers. It is best to give any Strelitzia grown indoors as much light as possible, and move it outdoors for as much of the year as possible to keep it healthy. Fortunately these are pretty adaptable plants. Strelitzia reginae, aka common bird of paradise or crane flower, is the most common and familiar plant in this genus growing 3 to 6 feet tall depending on lighting, age and variety--some miniature forms don't even get that tall.

Leaves are bright green to blue green, leathery and are somewhat boat-shaped with prominent parallel veins. During intense winds the leaves sometimes split along these veins, but for the most part, this plant is extremely wind tolerant and remains in excellent condition despite high winds and inclement weather. Flowers are brilliantly colored with bright blue petals and orange sepals. A variety called 'Mandella's Gold' has yellow sepals. They have multi-colored spathes of blue-green and red, often with various other colors like pink, orange, vermillion, white, lime green, yellow etc. It is no wonder this plant says "Tropics." Inflorescences are hardy and strong and make excellent cut flowers for arrangements and decorating. Flowers can occur year round in the right climate though seem to prefer the warmest seasons. A single inflorescence will usually produce multiple flowers. As one flower ages it becomes more upright and another set of petals and sepals emerge from the spathe. Most spathes will develop up to 3 flowers or more and some flowers will develop yet another complete inflorescence from the spathe (called a double flower).

Once the flower heads die, I find it is best to grab the petiole as low to the ground as possible and yank the dead inflorescence from the plant. This keeps the plants relatively neat and tidy over time. Simply cutting off the dead flowers and leaves will leave a plant messy and much less-elegant looking eventually. This species is cold-sensitive, but tolerates frosts pretty well down into the mid 20s--but not colder. (left) Exceptionally nice clump of Strelitzia reginae (photo by mustangman826). (middle) Close-up of flower. (right, or third photo) Yellow-flowering form called 'Mandella's Gold' Strelitzia reginae 'Mandella's Gold' photos Strelitzia nicolai, the giant bird of paradise, is the second most commonly grown species and is a much larger plant than Strelitzia reginae, growing up to 30 feet tall and eventually growing into a massive shrub up to 20 feet in diameter.

Unlike the hardier Strelitzia reginaes, the leaves of this species are quite susceptible to wind and often become tattered to shreds in areas with little protection. Leaves are somewhat similar in overall shape with a bit more rounded at the tips and relatively wider overall... and much larger of course. Leaves of this species are usually bright green to deep green though sometimes a bit blue-green. This species is also more prone to frost damage than Strelitzia reginae with severe leaf damage only 3 or 4 degrees below freezing. Flowers are borne on short petioles (3 to 8 inches) preventing these flowers from being popular cut flowers. Also the spathes are often far too sticky from nectar and pollen adhesives to be convenient for use in the flower trade. These flowers are about 2 or 3 times the size of Streliztia reginae flowers with pale blue petals and pure white sepals. The spathes are a deep, dark blue-green to purplish color. But the overall shape is still quite bird-like and easily recognizable as a bird of paradise. And even without the flowers, it is an amazing landscape plant.

You can see these growing by the thousands all over the Los Angeles and other southern California metropolitan areas. It is one of the most popular of all the larger public landscape species. old huge clump of Streltzia nicolai in Los Angeles arboreteum before pruning, and after; clump of young plants that could use pruning as well Strelitzia nicolai flowers showing very short petioles (not even visible) and dripping sticky material on spathe in second photo Strelitzia nicolai in the Los Angeles landscape (left) Differences between Strelitzia reginae on left and young Strelitzia nicolai on right. (right) Nursery-grown giant birds of paradise Some confuse this species with Ravenala madagascariensis, the traveler's tree. Though very closely related, this latter plant produces less-cupped (i.e., flatter) leaves that have longer petioles and are longer and somewhat less stiff themselves. This plant eventually forms wonderfully stacked leaves in a neat, perfectly two dimensional plane for an incredibly ornamental effect.

Flowers of these two species are similar, but traveler's tree flowers have lime-green spathes, no blue tongues and the sepals are a pale yellowy color. Sadly this species is even more cold sensitive and I cannot get one to survive in my climate here in inland Los Angeles. Ravenala madagascariensis, the 'Traveler's Palm'; young plant (photo by cactus_lover); flowers of Ravenala in third photo (photo by spaceman_spiff) Strelitzia nicolai is also quite similar to two other species of Strelitzia, S. alba and S. caudata, and frankly I still cannot tell them apart despite reading a few descriptions that try to clear up their differences. One of the common names for Strelitzia nicolai is white bird of paradise, which of course is also the common name for Strelitzia alba. It does not help, no doubt, that most plants in California identified as Strelitzia alba are indeed Strelitzia nicolai, and also that Strelitzia caudata is extremely rare in the U.S. (and I have never seen one in real life).

You can read more about these plants on this website and maybe the differences will be more clear to you. plant labeled as Strelitzia alba in Huntington Gardens... no idea if it's a correct identification or not, though Strelitzia juncea is the only other relatively commonly grown species of Strelitzia, at least here in the US, though it is still rare and pricey compared to the above two species. This is also known as the rush bird of paradise, narrow-leaved bird of paradise and african desert banana. This ‘species' is a bit of taxonomic puzzle as it is described on various internet sites with nearly equal frequencies as either its own species , as a variety of Strelitzia reginae, or as Strelitzia parvifolia var. juncea. For simplicity I just refer to it as Strelitzia juncea but mostly likely the correct identification is as an extreme variety of Strelitzia reginae, while Strelitzia ‘parvifolia' is most likely in-between variety. This plant has peculiar leaves that have no leaf blade at all, at least once they mature. The petioles just continue on to a point.

What is interesting as that as seedlings, these plants are identical to normal Strelitzia reginae, complete with the typical boat-shaped leaves. As they mature the leaf blades become shorter and more paddle-like, eventually shrinking to itty bitty little ‘spoons' and finally disappearing completely. Some Strelitzias have leaves that shrink to paddle-shaped leaf blades but maintain that characteristic on to maturity. Some identify this form of Strelitzia as Strelitzia parvifolia (in other words, another completely unique species). My guess is that a thorough study of these plants in the wild would reveal a continuous gradient of variations in some populations strengthening the argument for all these as being varieties of Strelitzia reginae. However that is only my guess. Strelitzia juncea sans flowers- not too ornamental?; but looks great when flowering nicely; good plant for cactus gardens This plant is my favorite Strelitzia because I love weird plants. And of course it's still considered a collector's item. Additionally it appears to be the most drought-tolerant species and so it suits my desert landscaping the best.

Flowers are nearly identical as far as I can tell to those of Strelitzia reginae. I don't know much about its cold tolerance, but I would not be surprised to discover it is the most resistant to frost damage, as the leaves are this genera's weakness when it comes to frost, and this plant really doesn't have leaves. my own Strelitzia juncea on left, Strelitzia reginae 'Mandella's Gold' on right; second two photos are of Strelitzias with little spoon-shaped leaves that I am assuming are immature Strelitzia junceas, but may indeed be some sort of 'in-between' form of Strelitzia reginae (or Strelitzia parvifolia as some call these plants) There are more species of Strelitzia (S. alba and S. caudata), but as I mentioned already, I cannot tell them apart from Strelitzia nicolai.

Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) | Our House Plants Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) The Spectacular Bird of Paradise Plant The Strelitzia, commonly known as the Bird of Paradise Plant, is the spectacular, unmistakable and unchallenged Queen of the houseplant world. One look at it when it's in flower and you know where it got its common name; the flowers look incredibly like the head of a rather exotic crested bird. They're pollinated by sunbirds, which use the "beak" ledge on the flower as a perch. The weight of the bird on the "beak" opens it to release the pollen onto the bird, which is then deposited on the next flower it visits. By using birds rather than smaller insects to do the pollinating it means as the plant ages and gets bigger rather than the plant producing ever increasing numbers of the same sized flowers, as you find in many other houseplants, what you'll notice is the blooms themselves tend to also get larger and larger. The Strelitzia is the official flower of Los Angeles, although it originates from South Africa.

It was named after an English Queen; Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744 - 1818). Queen Charlotte was an amateur botanist and when her husband King George III inherited the Royal Botanic Kew Gardens in 1772, it gave her the perfect chance to get her hands dirty and help with its development. The year after in 1773 Sir Joseph Banks brought back this spectacular new plant to Kew Gardens from South Africa, where it was officially named after Queen Charlottes family name; Mecklenburg-Strelitz. There are five main species and varieties, although only Strelitzia Reginae and Strelitzia Nicolai are treated as houseplants. S. reginae is very well known, and arguably the most common species (picture above). If the pot is big enough It can grow to 2 m / 6.6 ft tall, with large, tough banana like leaves 25–70cm / 9.8–28in long. They are produced on petioles (stems) up to 1m / 39in long.

The leaves are evergreen and emerge one at a time, usually in a criss cross pattern placement which ends up making a fan-shaped crown. The flowers are predominately orange with a touch of blue. The most commonly found and recognised variety has the orange flower heads, although you can get a newer variety called S. reginae 'Mandela’s Gold' which is popular because it has yellow and blue flowers. Yellow flowering Bird of Paradise plants had been around in the wild for a number of years. However the seeds from these yellow forms would not usually breed true when pollinated, simply because most would have been pollinated by different varieties with the orange flowers. To get a yellow variety that breeds true, two yellow parents are needed. John Winter at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Africa) in the 1970's, pollinated their limited supply of yellow strelitzia's (they had only seven). By 1994 after twenty years of careful selection and hand-pollination they had increased the original seven to a large enough number to release it commercially.

It was originally sold and traded under the name 'Kirstenbosch Gold' until 1996 when its name was changed in honor of Nelson Mandela to become 'Mandela’s Gold'. S. nicolai is another popular variety that has vivid white flowers and a black "beak". It was also named after Royalty (Nicholas I of Russia 1796 - 1855) however this one is considerably bigger than Queen Charlotte's plant, potentially reaching 6m / 20ft tall. It. The leaves as well as being bigger and longer than S. reginae's, tend to be shinier and greener. It's much harder to get S. nicolai to flower indoors and as you might imagine it takes considerably longer to reach its final mature height. No matter how much you like the look of the white flowers of S. nicolai do not go looking for it unless you have the space to house it. It really does grow to an enormous size and because of the way all Strelitzia's grow it's impossible to prune the plant without killing it.

They always make a statement and the ultimate magnificence of a mature plant will command attention above everything around it Both S. reginae and S. nicolai have much in common, including being named after Royalty, their majestic bold nature and being easy to grow. We can't stress enough that these plants are truly spectacular, not just in their flowers but also in their eventual size. They always make a statement and the ultimate magnificence of a mature plant will command attention above everything around it. This would be the perfect specimen plant or when space is at a premium but where you want just one plant with the "wow" factor. If you do fall in love with these plants they will completely dominate, and even after its long taken over you'll still be a happy subject of its rule. Bird of Paradise Care Instructions Light If you want lots of growth, and eventually flowers, it's going to need bright light and some sun . A east or west facing window should do the trick. You'll also do well to pick a south facing window if some shielding is provided from harsh summer sun which can burn the leaves of immature plants. A north facing position ought to be avoided in the long term.

Strelitzia's will cope with a darker position for a time, but growth will be much slower and the likely hood of flowers is low. You'll also get a more " spread " plant overall. Watering The amount of water needed will depend on where you end up putting your plant. Bird of Paradise plants in brighter, warmer spots are going to need considerably more than those in darker positions. A good rule of thumb is to water after the top of the soil becomes dry. Our favorite tip however is the weight of the pot trick . It's very easy to pick up a young plant and so this method works particular well. Humidity If the air is very dry, an occasional misting would be helpful to aid in removing the dust that settles on the leaves. Feeding Strelitzia's are typically hungry monsters, so plants which are rapidly growing need fertiliser once a month. Plants which are growing very slowly, so have little need for feed, cut back to bi-monthly instead. No feeding during the three or four Winter months is required. Temperature Average home conditions would be fine, especially if you have chosen a brightly lit or Sunny spot.

It needs warmth and some heat to grow well, although a cooler temperature between 8°C - 15°C / 46°F - 59°F in Winter is appreciated so the plant can "rest". Repotting In the early years this is fine to do each Spring using normal potting compost, however if you want flowers or you are trying to restrict the growth of the plant you need to keep it pot-bound. If it's housed in a plastic pot, a large Bird of Paradise will eventually distort and bulge it horribly. Therefore prepare to cut it free when it comes to repotting and know that when you do it will likely result in a disruption to the flowering cycle. Propagation Very mature Bird of Paradise plants will produce offsets which can be cut free and potted up, although this can be difficult. A more convenient method is to try and grow new plants from seeds . Like the flowers in which they are created, they are quite something with their largish seeds that have a tuff of orange hair. Pull off the hair, pot up in soil and place in a warm place. Germination is often erratic and unreliable but you can increase your chances by nicking the outer seed coat a tiny bit.

This will allow water to move deep into the seed to trigger the germination. Speed of Growth The speed of Bird of Paradise growth in good conditions can be seen with roughly one new leaf each month during the growing seasons. Visually this may not seem much, but the thick roots beneath the soil surface are truly monstrous and will fill a pot in no time, making this quite a fast growing plant. Height / Spread The plants will generally head for height rather than spread. S. reginae grows to 2m / 6.6ft tall. S. nicolai eventually reaches 6m / 20ft tall. However both types will flower long before they reach their eventual maximum heights. Flowers If you're having problems getting the flowers then the following steps should hopefully help, although patience is key because ultimately you can't order a King or Queen to do anything quickly. It's hard work for sure, but when you see that flower spike developing and slowly growing over several months to reveal the beautiful flower inside... It's a fantastic feeling for sure. Maturity - The plant needs to be at least 4 or 5 years old before they are capable of producing flowers.

Pot-bound - You must keep their root growth restricted, and this is done by keeping the plant pot-bound. i.e. stop repotting into larger containers when your plant approaches its 5th Birthday. Light - It needs sun or a brightly lit spot. Feeding - If you have fed the plant as recommended in the Feeding section , then you shouldn't have to worry about this. But if you don't normally feed your houseplants and all the above steps have already been met, consider feeding. Never feed more than recommended though, as this is equivalent to a human overdose and can have equally dire consequences. If the plant doesn't die then the leaf edges can become brown, dry and ugly. Anything else? The flowers last a long time so they're often worth the effort. If you get a seed pod when flowering finishes why not pot them up and give any seedlings away to family and friends. As mentioned in our introduction, you can't easily prune a Bird of Paradise plant without ruining its look and future growth so all you can do is to be prepared to accommodate its large size. You can of course prune out the flowers once they are finished, just cut them off as close to the base as you can. Help!

My Bird of Paradise is Dying There isn't much that can keep Royalty down and therefore problems afflicting Bird of Paradise are normally rare. No flowers on my Bird of Paradise See the " Flowers " topic. No growth Strelitzia tends not to grow in Winter, in darker spots or just after a repotting (its energy is being spent growing its massive tap roots). If none of the above applies, make sure the plant is being watered adequately, or that it's not in too small a pot. It's true you need to keep the plant pot-bound to make it flower, but it still needs a reasonably sized pot to let it grow to a potential flowering size in the first place. If you can cross off everything suggested above and the plant is otherwise healthy, leave it be and things should start up again in time. Plant growth is somewhat leggy A plant getting lots of light will produce new leaves which sit close to one another. A plant which is in a darker spot will produce leaves which are on longer petioles (which is the stem like part) and in more dispersed and wider positions. It does this to increase the leaf surface area exposed to light, in order to maximize the limited light it does receive.

The simple fix is to provide more light so the newer leaves grow closer together. Leaves curling on my Strelitzia This is only normally seen in young plants. Although the adult plant likes bright light and some sun, the youngsters may struggle with it in the early years. When the light level reduces the leaves uncurl, but it's probably best to move to a slightly darker spot until it's older. Leaves looking ugly and ragged As a Bird of Paradise plant gets taller its perfectly normally for the bottom leaves to go brown, look ragged or even yellow up. The leaves don't tend to fall off by themselves for a long time, so you'll have to either pull them or cut them off. If the upper leaves start to look in poor condition then its likely one of two things, far too much watering, or far too little. Assess which one it is and adjust your watering routine accordingly.

Also on OurHousePlants.com Strelitzia reginae - Plant Finder Plant Finder Common Name: bird of paradise Type: Herbaceous perennial Height: 3.50 to 4.00 feet Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer Sun: Full sun to part shade Water: Medium Garden locations Culture Winter hardy to zones 10 to 12, Strelitzia reginae is an easy plant to grow in the garden. Plants do well in full sun to semi-shade, love a rich loamy soil and plenty of water throughout the year. They respond well to regular feeding with a slow release fertilizer and compost. They are, however, very tolerant plants and will thrive in most soils and can survive with very little water once established. The plants are also wind resistant and grow well in coastal gardens. Strelitzias are sensitive to cold and would need a sheltered position in areas with frost, as the flowers and leaves are often damaged by frost. In cold climates, it is better to grow them in pots that can be moved indoors when freezing temperatures are expected. To grow indoors, pick a well-lit, sunny spot.

In the summer months screen against the very bright direct sun. Water plants freely and fertilize regularly in spring and summer. Keep drier in winter months and use a well-drained soil. Bird of paradise need moderate temperatures 55 to 65F at night. When temperatures rise above 70F. outside, place your plant in a semi-shaded location with good air circulation. Remove dead leaves and flowers as they occur. Noteworthy Characteristics Bird of Paradise is probably one of the most well-known plants in the world. It is a bold structural plant, which forms large evergreen clumps of stiff leaves growing up from the base. The grey-green banana-like leaves grow about 3 ½ to 4 feet in height and the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. The structure and pollination of the flowers are rather interesting. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges, is called the spathe. This is placed at right angles to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird’s head. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of 3 brilliant orange sepals and 3 bright blue petals.

Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the birds sit to have a drink of nectar, the petals open to cover their feet with pollen. Problems None serious, but watch for mealybug and scale. Garden Uses The fascinating blooms are sold as cut flowers by the million and used in floral arrangements. Bird of paradise make an excellent container plant for atriums, sunrooms and greenhouses. If you have space to overwinter the large plants, they do well moving from indoors to outdoors for the summer and back inside in the fall. In warmer climates, they are used as street plantings and urban landscapes. 1000+ images about Sterlizia / Strelitzia series on Pinterest | Birds, Bird of paradise and Flower I'm collecting different images / reworks of sterlizia flower, also known as strelitzia or crane flower or bird of paradise. I love this flower and called my blog See More Birds or Bananas? Strelitzia, Musa, and Heliconia | Perennial Pastimes Birds or Bananas? Strelitzia, Musa, and Heliconia 8 Apr Is it a bird or a banana?

When it comes to Bird of Paradise, False Bird of Paradise, Parrot or Parakeet Flower, Macaw Flower, Crane Flower, Banana, Wild Banana, or Wild Plantain–it can be hard to tell which is which. That’s because these tropical plants belong to three closely related families: Strelitiziaceae, Musaceae, and Heliconiaceae. And yes, some look like birds, others look like banana plants, and some actually are banana plants. Though common plant names can be endearingly whimsical and creative, they often lead to confusion; many plants have multiple common names and the same common name can refer to more than one plant. Today, thanks to binomial nomenclature (and to Google and other easily accessible sources), it is fairly easy to figure out that one person’s Bird of Paradise is someone else’s Crane Flower, and that both, in fact, are the same Strelitizia reginae. Carl Linnaeus laid the foundations for binomial nomenclature in his 1753 Species Plantarum. According to the system, all living things must have a scientific name in Latin consisting of two basic parts.

The first part identifies the genus; the second part identifies the species within the genus (if, as happened to me, the taxonomic ranks you learned in school have since retreated to the lesser-used recesses of your brain, they are: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.) As an example, the American Robin, a migratory bird in the thrush family, belongs to the genus Turdus (this somewhat unfortunate name means thrush in Latin…) and to the species migratorius within that genus. The European Robin, however, belongs to the genus Erithacus and to the species rubecula, which is derived from the Latin for “red.” But back to plants that look like birds. In 1773, Sir Joseph Banks (then director of Kew Gardens) took advantage of the system of binomial nomenclature to give the exotic Bird of Paradise plant–with its orange sepals, purple petals, and beak-like spathe–its scientific name (Strelitzia reginae) in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Queen Charlotte was the wife of King George III of England, an enthusiastic amateur botanist, and a strong supporter of Kew Gardens. The genus name Strelitzia refers to the Queen’s birthplace; the species name reginae comes from the Latin for “queen.” Strelitzia nicolai, on the other hand, refers to the Wild Banana, aka the Giant White Bird of Paradise. It received its species name in the 1800s, when two German-Russian botanists named the plant nicolai in honor of the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaievich, son of Czar Nicholas I of Russia. Birds or bananas–those are lofty names indeed. I’m just glad I now know which is which. Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise) aka Crane Flower in its native South Africa Strelitzia nicolai (Giant White Bird of Paradise) aka Wild Banana–though it does not produce edible fruit. Strelitzia nicolai, left; an edible banana plant in the Musaceae family, right. They look very similar when not in flower–see the leaves.

Heliconia psittacorum (Parakeet or Parrot Heliconia), left; Heliconia bihai (Macaw Flower), right. Heliconia are also known as False Bird of Paradise and Wild Plantains because their leaves are similar to the leaves of the Bird of Paradise and banana plants. Share this:

Question: The exotic flower strelitzia is also known by which more common name?
Answer: Bird of Paradise